My next project is http://copycatdancemaking.blogspot.com Julie Cruse and I and maybe you too will be copying each other's work and posting it. You can read Julie's first post here http://copycatdancemaking.blogspot.com/2008/05/copycat-story.html
In Candace Feck's Postmodernism class, I had the assignment to lead the discussion about David Gere's article on Joe Goode's 29 Effeminate Gestures. I was not sure if there was a video of the work so I recorded a series of gestures based on the article and that became my first dance on May 11, 2007. I was also taking a podcasting class with Dan Shellenbarger and up to that point I was making a somewhat uninspired blog about my life as a dancer using photos from my camera phone. In my dance composition class with Bebe Miller and Susan Rethorst I was making a new short dance every class and showing it. These were the magic ingredients that made danceaday a concept that was possible in my mind.
I have a history of creating long projects like this one. When I was in college at the North Carolina School of the Arts I made audio recordings inspired by Ken Nordine's Word Jazz. I loved doing these so much that on my breaks between classed I would run back to my room to record. Later when I was dancing with Liz Lerman and Jacob's Pillow's Men Dancers I rejected the camera for audio recordings of our adventures. I have over three hundred cassette tapes. Doing danceaday was a bit more of a challenge because of the time factor but it is rooted in my experiences with audio recordings.
I did not shoot, edit and post a new video everyday. This was not my intention and I never thought that it was possible, which it wasn't. The first month and a half I posted at least two videos a day one at danceaday.com and here. I was able to post a video everyday for a year. Sometimes I had to arrange for someone else to make sure they got posted because I would not be near a computer on a particular day.
It has been a performance that I have done everyday for a year. I have that post performance depression. It is 10pm and I don't have a video to post. I have not done a dance that needs to be edited. I feel some loss but I have many encouraging words from friends that make me smile. David Morneau dedicated his 60 second composition to danceaday. Along the way my HDV camera broke, my 500GB hard drive failed, a quicktime update broke my version of Premiere Pro so that it could not export in any format. Still, my computer stayed intact and my creative spirit remained although there were days that I did not feel like editing a video.
I am moving on to other projects. I am satisfied but feeling a huge empty place in my soul.
Artist Gerry Hofstetter had his work projected on the Washington National Cathedral so I took advantage of it for my final danceaday dance. Todd was on camera duty while I worked my way around the building dancing in the light. Todd being Toddish decided to ask one of the people on the projector if the light would stain the walls if it was on all night. She was stunned by the question as you will hear. At the end you can hear me talking on the phone to Kate about the end of danceaday.
Thanks to everyone who has joined me on this ride. It is hard to believe that it has been a year and that now it is over. This blog is now an archive but please visit
http://boriswillismoves.blogspot.com or http://boriswillismoves.com for my next move. You can see a video of the Cathedral slideshow below if you have windows media player.
http://video1.cathedral.org/wmv/ltu080509.wmv
I will be writing about my experiences soon and will be describing my challenges and talking about why I wanted to do this project.
Peace,
Boris
Colleen had a show at Judson church and many Ohio State Dance people came out to see her. She performed with Jaclyn and Coco who you see on the balcony. Peter and Katherine dance with me while David Morneau taped this dance and layered the organ music on top. Sadly, this is our last collaboration. Bittersweet. His daily project continues through June so be sure to check him out.
http://60x365.com
As danceaday is in its final week I can't seem to help using David Morneau's compostions. I keep making work that is 60 seconds long and in need of sound. Today I went to Rockville MD to tape Kate at Strathmore.
http://60x365.com
http://katejordan.net
At Judson Church with Ashley we go round and round.
http://www.youtube.com/user/AsertyDances
Mildred Loving died yesterday. She was a shy pioneer in the history of race in America. With her husband Richard she won the Loving vs. Virginia case that made interracial marriage legal in every state although Alabama was the last state to remove these laws from their books in 2000. In 2003 I made a work that included the Lovings called "Enter Race" and I have been wondering when or if I should revise it. It was originally a duet but when I went to grad school I reworked it as a solo with help from my fellow classmates. With Obama and Clinton racing for the White House now seems like a good time.
Photo: Todd Clark
I taped this dance on the campus of George Mason University. Of course I hear Tiny Tim when I watch this video but I got the music from David Morneau.
http://60x365.com/2007/07/july-31-2007.html
Today is David Mornau's birthday so he remixed a song that his uncle made for his 13th birthday. It is also JulieAnna's birthday. Todd did a big feet dance for me.
http://60x365.com
